How much does an electric oven cost to run?
About 39p a run on a standard tariff, or around £82 a year at 4 times a week. Less at the right time on a time-of-use tariff.
Today's cost where you live
Loading today's prices needs JavaScript. Open the tool instead.
An electric oven draws two to three kilowatts while it heats, then cycles on and off to hold the temperature. An hour at 200°C uses around one to two units depending on the oven, the size of the cavity and how often you open the door.
How we work it out
A typical electric oven uses about 1.5kWh for one hour at 200°c, taking around 1 hour. Electricity on a standard variable tariff costs about 26p a unit across Great Britain at the moment (it varies a little by region), so one run comes to about 39p. Your own model may use more or less: the energy label, or a plug-in energy monitor, will tell you.
If you're on a tariff where the price changes through the day, such as Agile Octopus, Economy 7 or an electric car tariff, the same run can cost much less at the right time. The Cheap Watts tool finds that time for you on your own tariff.
How to spend less
- Cook more than one thing at once. The second tray is free.
- Don't open the door to check. Every time you do, the oven loses heat and reheats.
- Use a fan setting and lower the temperature by about 20°C.
- Turn it off a few minutes early. The residual heat finishes the job.
A cheaper option
An air fryer cooks small amounts for a fraction of the cost, because it heats a much smaller space. See what a air fryer costs to run.
Worth a look
- Air fryer (Amazon, opens in a new tab)
Cooks one or two portions for a fraction of the oven's cost.
- Slow cooker (Amazon, opens in a new tab)
A whole meal for about a unit of electricity.
- Smart plug with energy monitoring (Amazon, opens in a new tab)
Measure what your own appliance really uses per run, instead of the typical figure.
Affiliate links: if you buy through them, Cheap Watts earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. They don't change the results above.